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592 Strigidae: typical owls

a similarly wide range of prey types, varying in size from the


smallest insects to large birds. Rodents are the predominant
prey in most areas. A great variety of nest sites is used, includ-
ing scrapes on the ground, cavities and stick nests in trees, and
cavities and ledges on cliffs and buildings.
Movements: Regular movements are not known in south-
ern Africa and the models show little seasonal variation in
reporting rates. However, nomadic movements occur into
areas where prey is abundant, resulting in dense aggregations;
these movements are usually associated with rodent plagues.
A remarkable record, showing that this species can wander
long distances, is of an immature bird ringed near Postmas-
burg (2722CC) and recovered almost 700 km away at Sal-
danha (3317BB), and presumably reflects juvenile dispersal
(Oatley 1996).
Breeding: Clutches are typically laid in early summer, the
peak egglaying months being July–October (Steyn 1982b; Fry
et al. 1988; Mendelsohn 1989a). Most atlas breeding data
span August–January and appear remarkably uniform through-
out the region, although perhaps about one month later in the
western Zones on average.
Interspecific relationships: Because of its broad distri-
bution and abundance, it is sympatric with other owls, includ-
ing Cape Eagle B. capensis and Giant Eagle B. lacteus Owls.
Competitive or other relationships between these species are
not known to affect their distribution or abundance.
Historical distribution and conservation: Thousands
of Spotted Eagle Owls, mainly juveniles (R.K. Brooke pers.
Spotted Eagle Owl comm.), are killed each year on southern African roads, 26
dead birds being found along 200 km of road in Namibia
Gevlekte Ooruil (Steyn 1982b). Despite such heavy mortality, its broad diet,
abundance and use of a wide range of habitats, including man-
Bubo africanus made ones, are features contributing to a secure status. No
evidence is available to suggest recent changes in distribution.
The Spotted Eagle Owl is the most widespread owl in
southern Africa, having been recorded virtually throughout J.M. Mendelsohn
the region. It is also abundant and widely distributed else-
where in Africa, with the range encompassing all of sub-
Saharan Africa except lowland forest in western and central Recorded in 2186 grid cells, 48.2%
Africa and parts of Somalia and Ethiopia (Fry et al. 1988). Total number of records: 19 211
Reporting rates were highest in the northeastern areas of Mean reporting rate for range: 15.0%
southern Africa, and lowest in northwestern areas. Compared
with other species, however, variation in reporting rates was
relatively small, c. 5–15% in the eight Zones. This suggests Reporting rates for vegetation types
that populations are fairly evenly spread throughout the %0 10 20 30
region. On a more local basis, the atlas data suggest pockets
of relatively high and low abundance. It appears to be absent Miombo 28.1
from most of Lesotho and the Namib Desert sand sea, while E Zimbabwe Highlands 21.9
it may be comparatively more abundant in the southwestern Grassy Karoo 18.3
Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal midlands, northeastern Fynbos 16.7
Transvaal, and in northeastern Zimbabwe. Nama Karoo 15.5
Few population or density estimates are available. Three Moist Woodland 14.9
pairs were found in 5.8 km2 in Zimbabwe (Fry et al. 1988), Southern Kalahari 14.6
an estimated four pairs in 69 km2 in the central Transvaal Central Kalahari 12.8
(Mendelsohn 1989a), and an estimated 10 pairs in 620 km2 Arid Woodland 12.2
in the Matobo National Park (2028C,D) (Macdonald & Valley Bushveld 11.8
Gargett 1984). Sour Grasslands 11.3
It is large and often perches alongside and on roads; it also East Coast Littoral 10.0
calls loudly, making it a conspicuous and well-recorded Sweet Grasslands 9.8
species. Mixed Grasslands 9.7
Habitat: Its broad range of habitats is confirmed by the atlas Mopane 9.5
data which came from all vegetation types in the region. Alpine Grasslands 9.4
Reporting rates were above 5% in all vegetation types, except Succulent Karoo 9.2
the Okavango and Afromontane Forest; the highest reporting Namibian Escarpment 8.8
rate came from Miombo. It also readily occupies man-made Namib 7.9
habitats, roosting and nesting in gardens, quarries and build- Northern Kalahari 5.8
ings. The occupation of different habitats is associated with Okavango 1.9
Strigidae: typical owls 593

14˚

SPOTTED EAGLE OWL

1 5 18˚

22˚

2 6
26˚

3 7 30˚
Reporting rate (%)
> 18.1
9.1 — 18.1
2.0 — 9.0
< 2.0 34˚

4 8
18˚ 22˚ 26˚ 30˚
14˚ 34˚
10˚

30
20
1 5 40

20
10

30
20
2 6 40

20
Occurrence reporting rate (%)

10
Breeding reporting rate (%)

30
20
3 7 40

20
10

30
20
4 8 40

20
10

J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J
Models of seasonality for Zones. Number of records (top to bottom, left to right):
Occurrence: 92, 201, 479, 549, 1357, 611, 1043, 221; Breeding: 15, 21, 49, 165, 90, 66, 193, 63.

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